Enabling social interactive wireless communications

ABSTRACT

A transfer system from transferring a media file includes a vehicle media system and a wireless mobile device. The vehicle media system includes a wireless receiver, a security measure, and a processor configured to wirelessly detect the wireless mobile device, and receive, using the wireless receiver, the media file from the wireless mobile device. The wireless mobile device includes a wireless transmitter, and a processor configured to wirelessly detect the vehicle media system, and transmit, using the wireless receiver, the media file from the wireless mobile device. At least one of the wireless mobile device and vehicle media system is configured to create a wireless connection between the vehicle media system and the wireless mobile device, and the wireless connection does not include the security measure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a Continuation patent application to U.S.application Ser. No. 13/494,097, filed on Jun. 12, 2012, which in turnis a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/999,570, filedon Dec. 7, 2007, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,671,195 on Mar. 11, 2014.U.S. application Ser. No. 13/494,097, U.S. application Ser. No.11/999,570, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,671,195 are all incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present disclosure is generally related to a digital mediacommunication protocol structured to facilitate transferring and/ortransmitting one or more digital media files to and/or from a mediaterminal and a media node via at least one interactive computer network.

2. Description of the Related Art

As technology continues to develop and play a significant role intoday's society, a vast majority of portable devices, including mobiletelephones, cellular telephones, portable MP3 players, handheld orportable game consoles, Personal Digital Assistants (“PDA”), etc. areequipped with memory devices, such as hard drives and/or removable flashor memory cards, which are capable of holding or storing large amountsof data and or digital media files including digital photographs,videos, audio/music files, etc. Accordingly, with the advent of suchdevices having these capabilities, individuals or users are moreinclined to carry around their media files, such as, for example,digital photo albums, family videos, and/or favorite music tracks.

The drawback to the above noted portable media devices, however, is thatmany of the devices include relatively small display screens, some ofwhich display poor quality photos and/or videos. In addition, thespeakers associated with the corresponding portable device(s) aretypically rather small and produce minimal or poor sound therefrom.

In addition, the individuals or users of the media devices may desire toshare the digital media files and/or transfer, display, or play thefiles on a computer or other media device equipped with a larger orbetter quality screen, or having higher quality speakers than thatdisposed on the portable device(s). In addition, some media devices mayhave better editing software, or have access to the World Wide Web tofurther distribute the digital media files.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous if the digital media communicationprotocol of the present specification is structured to facilitatetransferring or transmitting one or more digital media files between twoor more media devices, such as a media terminal and/or a media node, viaat least one interactive computer network. In particular, it would bebeneficial if the digital media communication protocol includes acommunication link structured to bypass at least one or more securitymeasures, such as a password and/or firewall, employed by theinteractive computer network, the corresponding networking devices,and/or the particular media devices themselves.

In addition, once the communication link is established it would beparticularly beneficial if the various media devices, including themedia terminal(s) and/or media node(s), are structured to display, save,edit, manipulate, and/or transfer the one or more digital media files.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the nature of the presentdisclosure, reference should be had to the following detaileddescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of the digitalmedia communication protocol in accordance with the presentspecification.

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of thedigital media communication protocol in accordance with the presentspecification.

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of yet another embodiment of thedigital media communication protocol in accordance with the presentspecification.

FIG. 4 is a partial flow chart of at least one illustrativeimplementation of the digital media communication protocol of thepresent specification. FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of at leastone embodiment of the system for enabling social interactive wirelesscommunication as disclosed in accordance with the present disclosure.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several viewsof the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the present specification relatesto a digital media communication protocol, generally indicated as 10. Asillustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, at least one embodiment of the presentprotocol or system 10 includes one or more media terminals 20 and one ormore media nodes 30. In particular, the media terminal(s) 20 of at leastone embodiment is disposed in an accessible relation to at least oneinteractive computer network 40 and may include, for example, a computerprocessing device 22, an input device 24, and a display device 26.Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 1, the media terminal(s) 20 of the variousembodiments described herein may include a computer, however, any devicestructured to facilitate the practice of the present system in theintended fashion may be utilized, including but in no way limited to adesktop computer, laptop or notebook computer, PDA, video game console,mobile telephone, media system of a vehicle (e.g., an automobile), etc.

The media node(s) 30 of at least one embodiment of the present system 10generally includes a portable device such as a cellular or mobiletelephone, PDA, portable mp3 player, laptop or notebook computer, or anyother digital media device structured to facilitate the practice of thepresent system in the intended manner. In at least one embodiment,however, the media node 30 is not limited to a portable device, and mayinclude a more stationary device or structure such as, for example, adesktop computer.

Furthermore, the various embodiments of the present specificationinclude at least one interactive computer network 40, 40′. Inparticular, as illustrated in FIG. 1, at least one embodiment includesone or more home, office, private, limited, or closed interactivecomputer networks 40 at least partially defined by one or morenetworking devices 42, including but not limited to a router, accesspoint, and/or switch. Accordingly, the interactive computer network 40may include a Local Area Network (“LAN”), Wide Area Network (“WAN”),Private Area Network (“PAN”), peer-to-peer network, near fieldcommunication (“NFC”), Bluetooth network, etc. As best shown in FIGS. 2and 3, it is also contemplated that, especially wherein the interactivecomputer network 40 is a Bluetooth or peer-to-peer network, the mediaterminal(s) 20 and/or the media node(s) 30 can function as thenetworking device(s) 42, at least to the extent of defining theinteractive computer network 40. Additionally, and referring again toFIG. 1, at least one interactive computer network 40′ of at least oneembodiment includes access to the World Wide Web, for example via theInternet. Such access to the World Wide Web 40′ may be facilitated inany manner, including but not limited to, via a cable or DSL modem 44,as shown in FIG. 1, or via one or more satellites 46 and/or one or moretowers or base stations 48, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

In addition, and still referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, at least oneembodiment of the present system 10 includes a wireless range 50structured to permit access to the one or more interactive computernetworks 40. In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, the wireless range 50may be at least partially defined by networking devices 42, such as awireless router, access point, switch, etc. In yet another embodiment,as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, however, the wireless range 50 may bepartially defined by the media terminal 20 and/or media node 30, suchas, for example, wherein the interactive computer network 40 includes aBluetooth or peer-to-peer network.

In addition, and as an attempt to minimize or eliminate unauthorizedaccess or security breaches to the interactive computer network 40, theinteractive computer network 40 and/or the various networking device(s)42 may include one or more networking device security measures 41including a firewall, and/or passwords/keys such as, for example, Wi-FiProtected Access (“WPA”) keys, and/or Wireless Application Protocol(“WAP”) keys. Accordingly, only authorized individuals or computers maygenerally have access to the interactive computer network 40 through thefirewall, via use of the password(s)/key(s), and/or any other networkingdevice security measure(s) 41.

The present system 10 further includes at least one digital media file60 initially disposed or saved on at least one of the media terminal(s)20 or media node(s) 30. Specifically, the digital media file(s) 60 maybe disposed on the media terminal(s) 20, the media node(s) 30, or both.However, it should be apparent that for purposes of the present system10, the digital media file 60 need not necessarily be created ororiginated on either the media terminal(s) 20 or the media node(s) 30.In particular, the digital media file(s) 60 may include virtually anyelectronic file or data such as a digital photograph, video, audio,animation, text, or any other electronic document or object.

Moreover, in at least one embodiment of the present system 10, the medianode(s) 30 is disposable within the wireless range 50, wherein the medianode 30 is detectable by the media terminal 20. In particular, as statedabove, in at least one embodiment, the media node 30 includes a portabledevice, such as a mobile or cellular phone, PDA, laptop, etc.Accordingly, the media node 30 may be disposed within, i.e., enter, theconfines of the wireless range 50, for example, when a user orindividual carries the media node 30 therein. In addition, for purposesof the present system 10, the media node 30 may be disposed within thewireless range 50 when the device is powered on, activated, or otherwiseconfigured into a discoverable and/or detectable state whilesimultaneously being physically disposed within the confines of thewireless range 50, and as such, the media node 30 need not necessarilybe portable or easily movable. For instance, while physically disposedwithin the confines of the wireless range 50, the media node(s) 30 maybe powered on or otherwise have wireless or Bluetooth capabilitiesactivated.

Furthermore, the media terminal(s) 20 disposed in accessible relation tothe interactive computer network 40 are structured to detect the medianode(s) 30 as the media node(s) 30 is disposed within the confines of oris otherwise detectable within the wireless range 50. Particularly, inat least one embodiment, each media node 30 includes a node identifierstructured to distinguish one media node 30 within the wireless range 50from another. For example, the node identifier may include a devicename, model/serial number, Media Access Control (“MAC”) address, orInternet Protocol (“IP”) address. Accordingly, as the media node 30enters or is otherwise disposed within the wireless range 50, the mediaterminal 20 is structured to detect and/or identify the media node 30,for example, by the corresponding node identifier.

In addition, at least one embodiment of the present system 10 includes aterminal program disposed in an accessible relation to the mediaterminal 20. In particular, the terminal program of at least oneembodiment is a computer software program structured to facilitate thepractice of the present system 10 in the intended fashion, at least fromthe media terminal 20 side of the system 10. The terminal program, of atleast one embodiment, may be disposed on the media terminal 20, such as,for example, on a hard drive, or other memory device associated with themedia terminal 20. In yet another embodiment, however, the terminalprogram may be accessible via the at least one interactive network 40,40′, such as, for example, via the World Wide Web. For example, in theembodiment wherein the terminal program is accessible via the World WideWeb, a user may direct a web browser disposed in the media terminal 20to a particular web site, which then runs or executes the terminalprogram and/or downloads the terminal program to the media terminal 20.

Either way, the terminal program may include at least one script whichis structured to consistently or periodically monitor the wireless range50 associated with the interactive computer network 40 for the existenceof media nodes 30. When a media node 30 is disposed within the wirelessrange 50, the terminal program may be structured or configured toautomatically alert a user at the media terminal 20 of the existence ordetection of the media node 20. In particular, the terminal program maydeploy a pop-up display, play an audio alarm or tone, etc. On the otherhand, the terminal program may be structured or configured to alert ornotify the user of any detected media nodes 30 only upon the user'sspecific instructions. For example, the media terminal 20, and inparticular the terminal program thereof, may be structured to list ordisplay the media nodes 30 currently disposed within the wireless range50 upon the user clicking on or otherwise manipulating a correspondingoption of the terminal program.

At least one embodiment of the present system 10 further includes acommunication link 70 structured to dispose the media terminal(s) 20 andthe media node(s) 30 in a communicative relation with one another viathe interactive computer network 40. In particular, the communicationlink 70 of the various embodiments of the present system 10 is createdand/or requested by the media terminal 20. As stated above, the mediaterminal 20 is structured to detect the media node(s) 30 disposed withinthe wireless range 50. As also stated above, the media node 30 may, butneed not, however, be configured to have access to the interactivecomputer network 40. For example, the interactive computer network 40and/or the corresponding networking device(s) 42 may be equipped withone or more security measures 41, including a WEP key or other password.The media node 30 may, but need not have access to the WEP key or othersecurity measure 41 so as to access the corresponding interactivecomputer network 40. Even so, the media terminal 20 is structured tocreate and/or initiate a communication link 70 with the one or moredetected media nodes 30 disposed within the wireless range 50, forexample, by sending and/or transmitting a request to the correspondingmedia node(s) 30 to establish a communication link 70 therewith via theinteractive computer network 40. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the mediaterminal 20 need not be disposed within the wireless range 50 in orderto detect the media nodes 30 or to create and/or initiate acommunication link 70 therewith. In at least one embodiment of thepresent system 10, the media terminal 20 does, however, need to bedisposed in an accessible relation with the interactive computer network40, for example, wirelessly or via a direct cable 43.

More in particular, the communication link 70 of at least one embodimentof the present specification is structured to bypass one or more mediaterminal security measures 21, media node security measures 31, and/ornetworking device security measures 41. Moreover, the security measures21, 31, 41 may includes passwords, keys, firewalls, etc. structured tominimize or eliminate unauthorized access to the corresponding mediaterminal 20, media node 30, networking device(s) 42, and/or interactivecomputer network 40, 40′. Referring again to FIG. 1, in the embodimentwherein the interactive computer network 40 and the wireless range 50are at least partially defined by networking device(s) 42, such as arouter, access point, or switch, once established, the communicationlink 70 is structured to be disposed between the media terminal 20 andthe media node 30, and through the corresponding networking device(s)42. Particularly, in at least one implementation of the present system10, because the media terminal 20 is disposed in an accessible relationto the interactive computer network 40, and because the communicationlink 70 is created and/or initiated by the media terminal 20, thecommunication link 70 can be established regardless of whether thecorresponding media node 30 independently has access to the interactivecomputer network 40. In addition, the initiation of the communicationlink 70 by the media terminal 20, such as through a request to establisha communication link 70, at least partially allows the communicationlink 70 to bypass the firewall or other media terminal securitymeasure(s) 21.

Moreover, the media terminal 20 of at least one embodiment of thepresent system 10 may be structured or configured to automaticallycreate and/or initiate a communication link 70 with the detected medianodes 30. However, more practically, a user in control of the mediaterminal 20 may direct the media terminal 20 to create and/or initiatethe communication link 70 with one or more selected media node(s) 30,for example, via the terminal program. Similarly, the media node 30 maybe structured or configured to automatically accept or decline creationof the communication link 70 initiated by the media terminal 20.However, in at least one embodiment of the present system 10, the medianode(s) 30 may be structured or configured for a user in control of themedia node 30 to selectively accept or decline the creation orestablishment of a communication link 70 initiated by the correspondingmedia terminal 20. As such, in at least one embodiment, the media node30 includes one or more node programs structured to facilitate thepractice of the present system 10 in the intended fashion, at least fromthe media node 30 side of the system 10.

Once the communication link 70 is initiated, accepted, and/or ultimatelyestablished between the media terminal 20 and the media node 30, thedigital media file(s) 60 may be selectively transmitted therebetween. Inparticular, if the digital media file 60 is initially disposed on themedia node 30, the media node 30 and the media terminal 20 maycooperatively communicate via the communication link 70 such that thedigital media file 60 may be transmitted from the media node 30 to themedia terminal 20. In addition, the converse is also true. Particularly,if the digital media file 60 is disposed on the media terminal 20, themedia node 30 and the media terminal 20 may cooperatively communicatevia the communication link 70 such that the digital media file 60 may betransmitted from the media terminal 20 to the media node 30.Furthermore, in at least one embodiment of the present system 10, thedevice on which the digital media file 60 is initially disposed, such asthe media node 30 or the media terminal 20, is structured to “push” thedigital media file 60 to the receiving device 20, 30 via thecommunication link 70. Similarly, in at least one embodiment, once thecommunication link 70 is established, the receiving device 20, 30 isstructured to “pull” the digital media file 60 from the transmittingdevice 30, 20 via the communication link 70.

For illustrative purposes only, the communication link 70, the terminalprogram, and/or the node program may be structured to include aselective set of parameters which define or limit the permissionsassociated with the communication link 70. In particular, in at leastone embodiment, the selective set of parameters may include the optionof transmitting the digital media file 60 via the communication link 70merely for purposes of displaying and/or playing the digital media file60, saving the digital media file 60, manipulating or otherwise editingthe digital media file 60, etc. In the various embodiments of thepresent system 10, it is contemplated that these parameters may beselected from either the media terminal 20 or the media node 30, atvarious times. For instance, the parameters may be selected by the mediaterminal 20, or a user in control thereof, when the communication link70 is created and/or initiated, or by either the media terminal 20 orthe media node 30 when the communication link 70 is accepted or created.

Furthermore, it is contemplated that the protocol 10 of the presentsystem includes a plurality of versions of the terminal program and/orthe node program, stated and described above. For instance, at least oneembodiment includes at least one limited version of the terminal and/ornode programs and at least one full version of the programs. It iscontemplated that the limited versions of the terminal and/or nodeprograms are distributed at no cost or at least a lower cost than thecorresponding full versions, and as such, provide limited functionality.Of course, the terminal and/or node programs, whether the limited and/orfull versions, may come pre-installed with the corresponding mediaterminal 20 or media node 30.

Moreover, for illustrative purposes only, FIG. 4 shows oneimplementation of the system 10 in accordance with the presentspecification, generally indicated as 100. In particular, and as above,in at least one embodiment, the media node 30 may include a portabledevice, such as for example, a mobile phone, a cellular telephone, PDA,or mobile computer. For purposes of the illustrative implementation ofFIG. 4, the interactive computer network 40 includes a wireless range 50located in one or more offices or rooms, wherein the media terminal 20is also disposed within one of the offices or rooms in accessiblerelation to the interactive computer network 40.

Furthermore, the digital media file 60 of the present illustrativeimplementation of FIG. 4 may be disposed on the media node 30, whereasthe user in control of the media node 30 desires to display the digitalmedia file 60 on the display device 26 of the media terminal 20. Forexample, a user of a wireless mobile device (i.e., an example of a medianode 30) can use the wireless mobile device to control the display of adigital media file 60 on a display (i.e., an example of display device26) of a vehicle media system (i.e., an example of a media terminal 20)within an automobile. The vehicle media system may be part of a vehiclenavigation system. Alternatively, the vehicle media system may includeone or more displays within the vehicle that are separate from thevehicle navigation system. In another aspect, the vehicle media systemincludes an audio system (e.g., the radio) of the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 4, the media node 30 may be disposed within thewireless range 102. For example, the user in control of, and/or havingpossession of, the media node 30 may walk into the office which isdisposed within the wireless range 50. As stated above, once the medianode 30 is disposed within the wireless range 50, as shown at 104, themedia terminal 20 is structured to detect the media node 20. The mediaterminal 20 may then create and/or initiate a communication link 70between the media terminal 20 and the media node 30 via the interactivecomputer network 40, as shown at 106, for instance, by sending a requestthereto. The media node 30 may then accept the request by the mediaterminal 20, which establishes the communication link 70, as illustratedat 108 in FIG. 4. Once the communication link 70 is established, thedigital media file 60 may be transmitted, i.e., “pushed” or “pulled”,between the media node 30 and the media terminal 20, as shown at 110.

More in particular, because the digital media file 60, for purposes ofthe illustrative implementation shown in FIG. 4, is initially disposedon the media node 30, the digital media file 60 may be transmitted,i.e., “pushed” or “pulled”, to the media terminal 20 from the media node30 via the communication link 70. In particular, the media terminal 20may display the digital media file 60, save the digital media file 60,and/or manipulate or edit the digital media file 60. In addition, themedia terminal 20, in at least one embodiment, may be structured totransmit the digital media file 60 and/or the edited media file back tothe media node 30 via the communication link 70.

What is claimed is:
 1. A media system, comprising: at least one mediaterminal disposed in an accessible relation to at least one interactivecomputer network, a wireless range structured to permit authorizedaccess to said at least one interactive computer network, at least onemedia node disposable within said wireless range, wherein said at leastone media node is detectable by said at least one media terminal, atleast one digital file initially disposed on at least one of said atleast one media terminal or said at least one media node, said at leastone media terminal being structured to detect said at least one medianode disposed within said wireless range, a communication linkstructured to dispose said at least one media terminal and said at leastone media node in a communicative relation with one another via said atleast one interactive computer network, said communication link beinginitiated by said at least one media terminal, said at least one medianode and said at least one media terminal being structured to transmitsaid at least one digital file therebetween via said communication link,and said communication link is structured to bypass at least one mediaterminal security measure for a limited permissible use of thecommunication link by the media node to only transferring the at leastone digital file to, and displaying the at least one digital file on,the at least one media terminal.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein thesecurity measure is a firewall.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein thetransmission of the digital file from the at least one media node to theat least one media terminal completely bypasses the security measure. 4.The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one media terminal is anavigation system.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least onemedia terminal is an audio system.
 6. A media system configured toreceive a digital file from a wireless mobile device over communicationnetwork, comprising: a wireless receiver; a security measure; and themedia system disposed in an accessible relation to at least oneinteractive computer network that has a wireless range structured topermit authorized access to said at least one interactive computernetwork, the wireless mobile device within said wireless range, whereinsaid wireless mobile device is detectable by said media system, at leastone digital file initially disposed on the wireless mobile device, saidmedia system being structured to detect said wireless mobile devicedisposed within said wireless range, a communication link structured todispose said media system and said wireless mobile device in acommunicative relation with one another via said at least oneinteractive computer network, said communication link being initiated bysaid media system, said wireless mobile device and media system beingstructured to transmit said at least one digital file therebetween viasaid communication link, and said communication link is structured tobypass the security measure of the media system for a limitedpermissible use of the communication link by the wireless mobile devicefor only transferring the at least one digital file to, and displayingthe at least one digital file on, the media system.
 7. The media systemof claim 6, wherein the security measure is a firewall.
 8. The mediasystem of claim 6, wherein the transmission of the at least one digitalfile from the wireless mobile device to the media system completelybypasses the security measure.
 9. The media system of claim 6, whereinthe media system is a navigation system.
 10. The media system of claim6, wherein the media system is an audio system.
 11. A method oftransferring a digital file from a wireless mobile device to a mediasystem over a communication network, the media system including asecurity measure, comprising: disposing the media system in anaccessible relation to at least one interactive computer network thathas a wireless range structured to permit authorized access to said atleast one interactive computer network, wherein the wireless mobiledevice within said wireless range, wherein said wireless mobile deviceis detectable by said media system, initially disposing at least onedigital file on the wireless mobile device, said media system beingstructured to detect said wireless mobile device disposed within saidwireless range, structuring a communication link to dispose said mediasystem and said wireless mobile device in a communicative relation withone another via said at least one interactive computer network,initiating said communication link by said media system, transmitting bysaid wireless mobile device to the media system said at least onedigital file therebetween via said communication link, and wherein saidcommunication link is structured to bypass the security measure of themedia system for a limited permissible use of the communication link bythe wireless mobile device for only transferring the at least onedigital file to, and displaying the at least one digital file on, themedia system.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the security measureis a firewall.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the transmission ofthe at least one digital file from the wireless mobile device to themedia system completely bypasses the security measure.
 14. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the media system is a navigation system.
 15. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the media system is an audio system.